All Culture
First LookTikTok and a major label are in a standoff. How does this song end?TikTok videos featuring major artists’ music are being muted after Universal Music Group terminated its licensing deal on the platform. It’s part of a larger conflict over fair compensation for creators’ work – as well as questions about the use of AI.
‘Perfect Days’ asks, what constitutes a happy life?What does it mean to live a life of meaning? Wim Wenders’ new film argues for the importance of moments.
First LookWomen win big at Grammy Awards: Swift, Cyrus, EilishThe Grammy Awards showcased wins for women, including Taylor Swift’s fourth album of the year, Miley Cyrus’s record of the year, and Victoria Monét as best new artist. The stage was lit up with performances by Tracy Chapman and Billy Joel, among others.
Walking in the path of the Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance is the subject of a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our cultural commentator relished his time walking the same streets that sheltered Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, and Alain Locke.
A friendly face in a foreign place: My encounter with a Soviet soldierOur visit to Soviet-era Moscow resulted in a chance encounter, and a lesson in humanity, that would stay with me for decades.
Perks and perils of being married to a photographerOn a recent trip to Kauai, our essayist found himself playing stuntman for his wife, The Photographer.
‘Percy Jackson’ takes on the Greek gods – and HollywoodWith the Season One finale of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” airing Tuesday, do fans think the Disney+ series has erased memories of two earlier movies?
First LookSingin’ in the rain? At 2023 concerts, extreme weather was no joke.Dozens of concerts were impacted by extreme weather in 2023, with at least two involving fatalities. As climate hazards intensify, the live music industry, and other outdoor venues, have struggled to adapt large-scale events to a new safety landscape.
Oscars go global: Most international best picture lineup in historyFor the first time, two international films have been nominated for best picture. And every nominee for best documentary feature is international, another first.
First LookFantasies and epics: Oscar nominations celebrate whimsy and scope“Oppenheimer” topped Oscar contenders with 13 nominations, followed by “Poor Things” with 11 nominations. Martin Scorsese’s dark Western, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” received 10 nominations, and Greta Gerwig’s near-musical “Barbie” received 8.
First LookChanges at Pitchfork signal a slower tempo in music criticismLayoffs at Pitchfork, an online music publication, aren’t just a symptom of media consolidation. The website’s absorption into GQ speaks to a world in which independent criticism and offbeat experiments are getting harder to find – or sustain.
Let there be light: Re-sparking my love of learningAs a veteran professor, I decided it was time to turn the tables and go back to school. I was immediately overwhelmed. Had I made a mistake?
First LookEmmys: Classic TV reunions and 'Succession,' 'The Bear' win big“Succession” won best drama series and acting nods for Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Matthew Macfadyen. “The Bear” won best comedy series along with every award it was nominated for in the first Emmys ceremony post-strike.
Space, love, and poetry: ‘The Nikki Giovanni Project’A new documentary offers a nonlinear, lyrical look at the activism and life of poet Nikki Giovanni. What our commentator comes away with is a sense of love and awe.
Snow, glorious snow! Savoring the timeless delight.In reliving the jubilation of scraping snowplows, school cancellations, and snow days, our essayist finds newfound wonder in every child's delight.
She’ll make you look twice: LA street artist spreads whimsy, hopeWhat makes a person install whimsical, unexpected art in the middle of blight? As LA street artist S.C. Mero sees it, there’s no better way to transform spaces – and thinking.
First LookGolden Globes: first Indigenous winner, ‘Poor Things’ upsets ‘Barbie’In a much anticipated Barbenheimer battle through awards season, the Golden Globes round went to “Oppenheimer.” Lily Gladstone made history as the first Indigenous best actress Golden Globe winner for her performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Sober as a college student? Why Gen Z shrugs at alcohol.In a cultural shift, younger Americans no longer view alcohol as a status symbol of adulthood. Many are drinking less, or not at all.
‘A visual map of my life.’ Navigating a new year, calendar in hand.In an increasingly digital age, paper calendars offer a reassuring guide to the year ahead, and a story of the past.
Rekindling a family friendship across continentsEven when geography, language, or customs differ, sometimes the strongest bonds transcend boundaries.
